Steam heating apparatus



(N0-Model.)

E. F. OSBORNB.

Y STEAM HEATING APPARATUSlv N0. 266,506. Patented Oct. 24, 1882.

UNTTEn STATES PATENT Ormea,

EUGENE F. OSBORNE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS. f

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,506, dated October 24:, 1882.

Application filed October 31,1881. Renewed September ]-I, 188:2.

(No model.) Iatented m France January 4, 1881, No. 1110, 179; in

Germany January 4, lS'l, No. [5,588; in Belgium January 5, 1881, No. 53,497, and in England October 17, 1852.

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE F. OsBoRNE, of St. Pauhin the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and use-ful Improvements in Steam Heating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. This invention relates to systems for supplying steam or the heat otsteam from a common point to several buildings in a town or city; and it consists in connecting the several local apparatuses with a central annunciator or a corresponding number of signals grouped at a convenient point for observation, whereby derangcment ot either ofthe said local apparatuses may be promptly and automatically announced to the person in charge in order that it may be at once corrected.

My invention is herein illustrated by the application of an electric annunciatorand connections to a certain form ot' float-trap comprised in one of the local apparatuses, said certain form of float-trap being that shown and described in another patent granted to me t'or which application was tiled August 16, 1881.

In the drawings, Figure l shows the said trap in side elevation, having devices applied thereto for the purposes ot this invention. Fig. 2 shows parts ot' the trap in plan and horizontal section, and Fig. Bshows the annunciator, which is located at a convenient pointfor observation-as, for example, the generatingroom, whence steam is supplied.

The oat-trap is selected as the most appropriate part of the local apparatus with which to connect the signal or aiinunciator, for the reason that defects in the operation of the said apparatus are generally readily manifested in the position ofthe water-level in said trap. In the form of trap referred to, and here shown, the water-level is externally revealed by an exterior arm connected with the interior Heat, which arm forms a conveniently available moving` or movable part by which to close an electric connection whenever the float shall rise beyond a proper limit in consequence of an obstruction ot' the condense-water escape t'rom the trap, or shall fall too low from any cause that may prevent the proper supply ot' water to the trap.

A is a cast-iron steam-trap,-having an interior ioat connected by a relatively-horizontal arm with a protruding metal shaft,j`, so as to oscillate said shaft by the rise and fall ofthe water-level within said trap.

F is a metal arm rigidly secured to the protruding portion ofthe shat'tf, and therefore vibrated with the rise and fall ot' the interior oat.

C is a metal bar, centrally pivoted at c to the side ofthe trap near and opposite the vibrating arm F, as shown, and insulated from the trap bythe interposed block C', ot' hard rubber or other suitable insulating substance. Said bar O is provided with two metal arms, located one at each side of the pivotal point,- c, and arranged to project one above and thel other below the arm F, as shownv in Fig. 1. Said armsc are so placed that all normal movements ot' the arm F may take place between them without contact therewith, but also so that any extraordinary movement ot` said arm F, produced by too much or too little water in the iioat, shall bring it into contact with one or the other ot' the armsc c. By then connecting the trap A, the bar C, andan annuneiator with a suitable battery or its equivalent in a circuit that shall be closed by contact ot' the arm F with the barO through one or the other ot'its arms c, a deranged condition or operation ofthe apparatus which att'ects the waterlevel of the iioat will be at once signaled by the annunciator. N is such an annunciator, supposed to be located at the general oflice, the generating room, or other convenient point for observation by persons interested, and c is an insulated wire leading from the bar C to the annunciator N. The trap orits arm Fmay have ground or other suitable connection with the anuunciator, and all the appliances necessary to produce the current and to sound the alarm and all separate connections needful to indicate the number ot' the trap or apparatus whence the signal comes at the annunciator may be ot' the usual or any preferred construction. Asignal-bell connected with the annunciator N is shown at N.

IOO

B is a signal-bell, located in the building containing the trap and suitably arranged in the circuit to give warning to the persons locally in charge. y

The wires e may be laid in the same inclosing box which contains the mains and branches through which steam is conveyed to the building, or they may be arranged above ground, in the usual manner of telegraph-Wires.

I claim as my inventionl, In a system of general steam-supply for man y1 buildings from a common source, the combination, with the several local apparatuses, of'an annunciator located ataconvenient point and connected with a moving part of each of said local apparatuses, whereby the annunciator at once indicates a derangement of either of said local apparatuses, substantially as described.

2. In a system of general steam-supply for many buildings from a common source, the combination, with the several local apparatuses, of an annunciator located at a convenient point and connected with a moving part ot' each of said local apparatuses, and a local signal connected with such moving part, whereby au alarm is simultaneously signaled to the occupants of the building and at the centralannunoiator,substantially as described.

.In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses;

EUGENE F. OSBORNE.

Witnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, Jnssn Cox, J r. 

